LETTERS
Illustration: Cathy Wilcox
The interminable US election was a reminder of what President Barack Obama and the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, have in common. (''Return to gridlock: it's down to business for a house split in two'', November 8).
Obama and Gillard face virulent oppositions and some members of the Coalition would fit comfortably into the Tea Party. Both leaders are coping with economic uncertainties resulting from the global financial crisis, but the Labor government did better with its stimulus package, carbon tax and Mineral Resources Rent Tax. In fact, Australian personal tax is down and our economy is the envy of finance ministers around the world.
Democratic theorists may applaud the fact that Obama and Gillard both have to negotiate with legislatures they do not control. It is probably stressful for the leaders but beneficial to the public that the legislatures are not rubber stamps for the executive government, but in both countries more co-operation and less negativity would be in the public interest.
James Moore Kingsgrove
God bless America for having a heart (''Obama reaches out to nation'', November 8).
Robyn Dalziell Castle Hill
I usually dread the phenomenon of Australia following what happens in the US. However, after the US election, where the people rejected the endless negativity, anger and disrespect of so many conservatives, I can't wait until we mimic the Yanks this time. Tony Abbott should have felt a shiver go down his spine as the results came in.
Mark Pearce Richmond
For the good of humanity, let's hope that President Obama during his second term finally earns the Nobel peace prize that he was awarded during his first term.
Luke Weyland Strathfield
I watched the count today at the US Studies Centre at Sydney University, where I was also for the historic 2008 US election result. The atmosphere was electric when it became clear that Obama had won.
This time I decided to walk around and ask people there why they were there and what an Obama win meant to them. The overwhelming sentiment was a feeling that the hope that Obama brought four years ago would continue with more reforms such as health care and the hope that the Republican conservatives would be more constructive and co-operative this time around.
What they also said was that there was a big lesson in this result for the Coalition here because it has been copying the conservative Republican approach on issues such as immigration and Tony Abbott's attitude to women's issues. They pointed to the failure of the Newman government in Queensland to be inclusive when it came to power as an example of what the Coalition should not do if they had an opportunity to form the next federal government.
The overall impression I got was that people found Mr Abbott's approach to be abrasive and divisive, and that they were looking to politicians to be more inclusive and to solve complex problems in a bipartisan way. They said the public was sick of the bickering and white anting by the opposition.
From my observation today, there seems to be a lesson in today's US results for the Coalition. If they ignore it, it will be to their own peril.
Chris Osborne Marks Point
Watching Obama's acceptance speech, it became obvious that humility has been redefined.
If there is anything that Australian politicians can learn from the grinding machinations of the American electoral process, it is that honesty and humility will triumph over the adversarial blame game that we have had to gag on for the past 20 years.
Tony O'Ferrall St Ives
So, if it hadn't been for hurricane Sandy, Mitt Romney might well have been president of the US? Mitt, you must be spewing. But wait - wasn't Sandy an act of God?
Jasper Swann Ashfield
When I heard Barack Obama's acceptance speech I wanted to emigrate. Are Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott really the best we can do? Their respective parties should be ashamed of the choice they are forcing upon us.
Robert Webber Byron Bay
A mediocre and lacklustre leader full of rhetoric holds on to high office on the promise of hope over an opposition leader that voters regard as lacking in trust and having little or no policy and direction. That was the US, and Australia appears headed down the same path.
Milton Battaglini Carindale (Qld)
Well, it has been proven that President Obama is extremely popular with the women voters of America. Perhaps Tony Abbott could get a few tips from the President.
Carolyn Wills Cremorne
With the election behind him, Romney can get back to spending more time with his money.
Janet Abraham Coal Point
One of the key reasons for Obama's victory was the huge stimulus package post global financial crisis. In contrast to Europe, the US economy is recovering. It is evident austerity and cutting benefits and thousands of public service jobs doesn't work. All Australian governments - especially NSW and Queensland - should take note.
Alan Morris Eastlakes
Although initially on the nose, Barack Obama won the election, probably because most Americans didn't want a president named after something you put on your hand.
Peter Miniutti Ashbury
Courage the best way to change St John's culture
Professor Roslyn Arnold is to be applauded for her courage in speaking out against alleged bastardry and appalling behaviour at St John's (''Until there is change, don't be a Johnsman'', November 7).
Such activities are completely foreign to education, which must always aspire towards inclusivity. Keeping them hidden has no place in institutions committed to the pursuit of truth wherever it may lead. Her actions have been the catalyst for change and future students untroubled by such matter may never realise how much they owe to her.
Peter McCallum Chair, Academic Board, University of Sydney
If ever there was an example as to just how hard dealing with alcohol abuse is in this city we need look no further than the university colleges at Sydney University (''Time to reform all colleges - uni chief'', November 8).
While appalling and disgusting the acts of drunken stupidity that take place on campus are, they will probably not affect their health and their immediate family permanently - as opposed to the many people in the wider community who go on to consume excessive quantities of alcohol throughout their lives.
What is sad is just how rich the veins of our future leaders are running with alcohol and what little we can expect in the coming years for any real action in trying to curb the damage alcohol does in this country.
It seems that no matter how obvious the need for action to reduce the amount of alcohol we consume in this country we are yet to openly acknowledge just how powerful the problem is.
It is as though politicians secretly believe they are powerless in the face of the alcohol industry, that they simply cannot summon the strength to actually take any real action.
Interesting - or perhaps a little scary - to note that the first step in 12 steps to sobriety according to AA is ''We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable''. There can be no doubt we have a drinking problem in NSW but are we now reaching a stage where the problem is actually more powerful than those in charge?
Luke Fennell Mosman
Laboring the point
Questions raised about Eric Roozendaal's grip on his personal finances and information provided to the ATO should ring alarm bells (''Party moves to suspend embattled Roozendaal'', November 8).
I hope that the Obeid family has a better grip and has provided the ATO with all relevant and correct information pertaining to all their companies, even the ones on the shelf.
Lee-Ann Groblicka Turramurra
Let me get this straight. An ICAC inquiry produces no evidence that former treasurer Eric Roozendaal did anyone any favours in return for an alleged gift of $10,800. And yet the Opposition Leader, John Robertson, decides Mr Roozendaal should be suspended from the Labor Party.
What happened to the presumption of innocence?
The decision to seek the former treasurer's suspension from the party does not sit well with Mr Robertson's statement that he believes Mr Roozendaal is an honest man who told the truth to the ICAC.
Peter Breen East Sydney
In-the-dark rages
Lenore Taylor reports that Martin Ferguson expects customers to manage energy usage by time-of-use pricing (''Federal pressure on NSW to deregulate retail electricity prices'', November 8). Is he really suggesting families cook at ridiculous times, switch heaters and air-conditioners on when we don't need them and sit in the dark with all appliances off until off-peak times kick in?
Denis Suttling Newport Beach
One for Ripley's
The timing of cabinet changes to the competitive tender guidelines for private sector projects just before James Packer submitted his Barangaroo proposal, is truly remarkable (''O'Farrell denies favouring Packer'', November 8). If only all coincidences could be so well timed.
John de Bres Rose Bay
Barry O'Farrell and Mike Baird dived quickly down the familiar ''black hole'' after their election win last year only now to miraculously find a hollow log of a billion dollars together with a gold-plated brick road leading straight to Barangaroo. Little wonder that the citizenry tires of business as usual in NSW Inc.
Paul Coghlan Allambie Heights
Prose and cons
I loved Elizabeth Farrelly's use of a sustained metaphor in her column about James Packer's ''erection'' at Barangaroo (''Cosy deal for casino patricians but dice loaded against proles'', November 8). Informative, logical and amusing, and she kept it up until the end.
Peter Skrzynecki Eastwood
Who could disagree with Paul Sheehan's admiration of Francesca Cumani as a true beauty - in appearance, character and deeds (''Why Seven needs this beauty with the beasts'', November 8).
But when it comes to beauty of words and thought, who can surpass Elizabeth Farrelly at her best? Simply exquisite in expression - a writer whose prose sparkles in the dullest light. Her piece on Jamie Packer and Barangaroo was a gem.
Peter Bower Naremburn
I think Paul Sheehan is suffering a form of equine (love) fever.
Thumbs down to US experience
If those who support the concept of an Australian republic with a directly elected head of state need any evidence of the folly of such a system, they need only look at the US presidential campaign.
Aside from the astronomical amounts of money spent by both candidates, the ''popularity contest'' nature of the electioneering precluded any serious, big-picture policy development or agendas for social, political or economic reform. In any event, the potential conflict in a Westminster-style republic of a popularly elected head of state competing with a popularly elected prime minister should be well understood.
In the Herald on Tuesday (''Time to give people say in how governor-general is chosen'') Professor George Williams suggested that ''before advising the Queen of the next governor-general in 2014, the prime minister should invite nominations and then seek advice from a panel of eminent Australians and community representatives as to which nominees are most suitable for the post''.
This proposal is too vague to have any real value if we are ever going to transition to an Australian republic. Given that monarchists claim that the governor-general is already our effective head of state, why not slightly modify the current arrangements by removing the British monarch from the process? Allow the prime minister of the day to make a recommendation to a joint sitting of Federal Parliament (rather than the monarch), with a 75 per cent majority required to confirm the appointment. This would avoid a situation where the monarch was obliged to sanction such blatantly political appointments as Casey, Hasluck, Kerr and Hayden.
The prime minister should have no ability to unilaterally dismiss a governor-general/president, which is currently the case - i.e., the British monarch is obliged to withdraw the commission if a PM so advises. Rather, any dismissal would also need a 75 per cent majority vote from a combined sitting of Parliament.
I believe such a process would be much more likely (than popular election) of ensuring that our head of state was both totally apolitical and possessing of the eminent qualities expected in that role. After all, no prime minister of right mind would put forward a candidate who was not guaranteed of securing near universal endorsement from our elected representatives.
Martyn Yeomans St Ives
Political paralysis as banks gorge
The big four banks have now announced combined full year cash profits of more than $25 billion. Whatever happened to that well justified super-profits tax? Of course, if Labor was to propose one, Tony Abbott would revive his ''great big new tax'' refrain.
If the Liberals dared to suggest one, they would be beaten around the head as with their proposal for business to cover the cost of their paid parental leave scheme. Meanwhile, bank shareholders rake in excessively high dividends year after year.
John Walsh Watsonia
Trump the chump
No, you chump, Trump, the world is laughing at you. '' 'The world is laughing at us': Trump rant ignites Twitter'', smh. com.au, November 8).
Dick Clarke Elanora Heights
Better beaten than turned into mush
Peter Skinner (Letters, November 8) asks, ''Does it really make a fast horse go faster, and does it hurt them as much as it offends many of us?'' in regards to the use of a whip. The answer is yes, and no to the second part. Regardless, it is a better life than for those destined to wind up as dog food.
Mitchell Beston Woy Woy
It wasn't just Green Moon being whipped mercilessly, Peter Skinner - the close-ups of the Melbourne Cup race showed most of the horses were being flailed with large, stiff whips. Just after watching the running of the Cup, I received an email from Lyn White of Animals Australia, whose organisation I have supported, urging me to support their campaign to end the abject cruelty of the live export trade.
I find it somewhat disturbing and not a little hypocritical that on the one hand we are rightly outraged at the cruel treatment of animals sent overseas for slaughter, yet we approve and cheer and even invite royalty to watch the merciless whipping of other sensitive and intelligent animals so that they will win races and make already rich people richer. Ban the whip.
Lance Dover Pretty Beach
Ears to the ground
It is disappointing the Australian cricket team plans to use sledging to beat South Africa (''Inside job: Hosts' plan for Proteas unearthed'', November 8). It is possible to play hard in professional sport without having to resort to insulting or intimidating tactics. Roger Federer is a champion in a professional sport and he doesn't resort to such underhanded tactics.
Microphones should be placed to capture all that is said towards the batsmen. If players wouldn't like their mothers to hear what they are saying, then they shouldn't be saying it.
Joseph Lee Belfield
Grubs on the loose
Three cheers for the people who left the detritus of their chicken dinner, their bottles and their sweet wrappers on the seat in the train. What a great welcome for all the tired foreign visitors crowding aboard at the international airport. Aren't we capable of being embarrassed any more? Welcome to Sydney, folks!
Mary Purnell Revesby
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